C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Front springs

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 10, 2011 | 10:05 PM
  #1  
JER BEAR's Avatar
JER BEAR
Thread Starter
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: MOLINE IL.
Default Front springs

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PUT NEW COIL SPRINGS BACK IN
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2011 | 06:10 AM
  #2  
dgood's Avatar
dgood
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 807
Likes: 2
From: VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA
Default

I placed the springs in the upper and lower control arm. Make sure you get them in the grooves. Then I used a floor jack under the lower control arm and jacked it up high enough to put the spindle on. Do it carefully because you do not want the spring to jump out.

My upper and lower control arm had a spot for each end of the coil. If you don't seat it in there correctly, your car will sit off balance (one side higher than the other) and you will have to pull it out again and spin it a little then put the spindle back on.

Dan
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2011 | 08:02 AM
  #3  
jb78L-82's Avatar
jb78L-82
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 970
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Default

Originally Posted by dgood
I placed the springs in the upper and lower control arm. Make sure you get them in the grooves. Then I used a floor jack under the lower control arm and jacked it up high enough to put the spindle on. Do it carefully because you do not want the spring to jump out.

My upper and lower control arm had a spot for each end of the coil. If you don't seat it in there correctly, your car will sit off balance (one side higher than the other) and you will have to pull it out again and spin it a little then put the spindle back on.

Dan
This is the method that I used as well. Put the spring in the grooves as described above and then using a floor jack under the lower control slowly raise the lower control arm, compressing the spring, until you can reconnect the lower ball joint. I would use a chain through the spring and around the lower control arm for safety sake,, just in case the spring pops out.
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2011 | 08:07 AM
  #4  
mikep3's Avatar
mikep3
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Default

I just completed a front end job and used a Moog spring which was shorter than the original one.
The first side I had the upper and lower arms on and the spindle connected to the lower arm, it was next to impossible to get the top of the spring in place. I ended up taking the spindle and upper arm off and using a floor jack under the lower arm. After several up and down and shifting the spring aroung, beer, timeout the spring found the upper pocket. The other side when in with little effort.
I should have done the front end first five years ago. My car drives straight, smooth, and no vibration.
Good luck, Mike
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2011 | 06:24 PM
  #5  
Belgian1979vette's Avatar
Belgian1979vette
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
Default

a threaded bar, a couple of nuts and large, thick washers, remove the shocks and put the bar in its placeg
No risk of the spring flying out or the jack sliding away.
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2011 | 09:02 PM
  #6  
JER BEAR's Avatar
JER BEAR
Thread Starter
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: MOLINE IL.
Default

Thanks guys but with the body off and the motor out , the jack lifts frame up
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2011 | 10:19 PM
  #7  
Sky65's Avatar
Sky65
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,771
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Default

Originally Posted by Belgian1979vette
a threaded bar, a couple of nuts and large, thick washers, remove the shocks and put the bar in its placeg
No risk of the spring flying out or the jack sliding away.


And set the top of the new spring in the upper spring pocket at the stop and let the bottom seat wherever it may.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2011 | 12:39 AM
  #8  
UberLegend's Avatar
UberLegend
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,169
Likes: 2
From: Cemetery of a town Montana
Default

Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jul 12, 2011 | 03:36 AM
  #9  
Drawmain's Avatar
Drawmain
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 938
Likes: 15
From: Valdosta Georgia
Default

Originally Posted by Belgian1979vette
a threaded bar, a couple of nuts and large, thick washers, remove the shocks and put the bar in its placeg
No risk of the spring flying out or the jack sliding away.
And here are some instructions:

http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...617d6fcab54106
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2011 | 04:40 AM
  #10  
noonie's Avatar
noonie
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Default

If you can borrow or rent one of these for free it's the easiest, about 3 minutes per side.

Reply
Old Jul 12, 2011 | 10:58 PM
  #11  
MajD's Avatar
MajD
Racer
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 46
From: Lebanon OH
Default

I rebuilt the front end in my 79, and I used a spring compression tool. After compressing the spring, you will have to disconnect the lower control arm to get the old spring out and the new one in. The idea is to compress the spring so it's length is less than the distance between the lower control arm and frame mount. This allows you to place the spring in the lower control arm grove so it doesn't squeak. Put the compressed spring between the control arm and frame, and bolt the lower control arm in place. Once that's done, slowly decompress the spring so it rests in the grove, and everything should come together. I hope that helps.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2011 | 05:40 PM
  #12  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,202
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi,
There's a small diameter hole in the bottom of the spring pocket in the lower arm. I believe that the spring should be placed so you can just see the cut end of the coil when you look through the hole. This detail helps get the same ride height on each side.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2011 | 06:10 AM
  #13  
noonie's Avatar
noonie
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi,
There's a small diameter hole in the bottom of the spring pocket in the lower arm. I believe that the spring should be placed so you can just see the cut end of the coil when you look through the hole. This detail helps get the same ride height on each side.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Besides making it even, it also serves as a drain, so it should be clear.
The general consensus it to align the springs from the top, supposedly as the factory did. there is also a guide hole up there.
Small bolts will screw in by themselves with no fuss, temporarily. to butt against, for spring installation.
Here are temp bolts top and bottom.





Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Front springs





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:52 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE